Student-Athlete Spotlight: Joanne Banaszak, UW-La Crosse

Each week during the 2025-26 academic year, the WIAC will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver's.

Name: Joanne Banaszak
Institution: UW-La Crosse
Hometown and High School: Kenosha, Wis. (Indian Trail)
Year in School: Senior
Sport: Diving
Major: Psychology
Minor: Nutrition

Why did you choose UW-La Crosse?
I chose UW-La Crosse because I loved the atmosphere and environment of the campus and the city. I also loved the team dynamic and felt this team would be the most beneficial for me.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
I enjoy being in the WIAC because it allows me to stay relatively close to home and because it is a competitive conference. I like being a Division III athlete because we’re all doing it for the love of the sport and because I have a good balance between school, athletics, and social life.

What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s? Chicken Tenders
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s? Chocolate Volcano
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus? Wittich Hall
TV Show? Bachelor in Paradise
Holiday? Fourth of July
Food? Pineapple
Animal? Tiger
Smartphone App? Reminders App
Musical Group or Artist? Zach Top or Morgan Wallen
Professional Sports Athlete or Team? Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Vacation Spot? Oceanside, CA

What is your greatest sports moment?
At the 2025 WIAC Championships, I won the one & three-meter championship and was named the WIAC Diver of the Meet. I also broke the one-meter conference record, the La Crosse divers broke the record for the amount of points scored, and we won conference as a team!

What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
I really enjoy going down to the river or to the bluffs and hanging out there or, of course, going to 7 Brew.

Who is someone that you look up to?
My parents and my brothers.

Do you have any words of advice for younger/upcoming student-athletes?
Embrace the process of training and competing because it’ll be over before you know it. Challenge yourself to become the best version of you while still enjoying the experience. And finally, to just be grateful for what you do and how far you’ve come.

One word that describes you?
Passionate.

What is your dream job?
Relator.

Three things on your "bucket list"?
---See the Northern Lights
---Go white water rafting
---Go on a safari

A non-athletic talent that you have is?
Sewing.

What’s your dream sporting event to attend?
Formula 1 race.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
During each round of diving I have to take a sip of water at the same time.

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